Cookie Policy
Last updated: 2026
1. What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website can ask your browser to store. They're sent back to the website on subsequent visits. They're used for a wide variety of purposes: remembering login sessions, tracking analytics, personalising content, and serving targeted ads.
DSPDF's design philosophy is: use cookies only when genuinely needed, and be transparent about what they do.
2. What DSPDF sets by default
Out of the box, DSPDF sets the following:
| Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
dspdf_theme |
Remembers whether you chose dark or light mode | Persistent (until you clear site data) | Local storage — strictly functional |
That's it. One local storage entry, and it's strictly functional (it doesn't identify you, it just remembers a UI preference). We don't set analytics cookies, advertising cookies, or any third-party cookies by default.
3. If analytics is enabled
If the site owner enables analytics (see analyticsEnabled in js/config.js), then analytics cookies may be set by the analytics provider. For Google Analytics 4, the cookies are typically:
| Name | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
_ga | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
_ga_* | Maintains session state | 2 years |
Analytics cookies are set with the "analytics" category and could be blocked by a cookie consent tool without breaking the site. DSPDF itself doesn't include a consent banner by default — if analytics is enabled, the site owner is responsible for adding compliant consent.
4. If advertising is enabled
If the site owner enables advertising (see adsenseEnabled in js/config.js), Google AdSense and its partners may set cookies including:
| Cookie | Purpose |
|---|---|
__gads, __gpi | Serving and measuring ads |
IDE | Personalised advertising based on browsing history |
NID | Remembers preferences for Google services |
Ad cookies are governed by Google's own policies. To learn more or opt out:
- Google's Advertising Policies
- Google Ad Settings — opt out of personalised ads
- YourOnlineChoices — industry opt-out for EU/UK visitors
- Digital Advertising Alliance — opt-out for US visitors
5. Third-party cookies from CDNs
DSPDF loads scripts (pdf-lib, pdf.js, Tesseract.js) from CDNs. Loading these scripts may result in the CDN setting performance or rate-limiting cookies. These are outside our direct control and are governed by the CDN's own policies:
- Cloudflare cookie policy
- jsDelivr privacy
- unpkg (a Cloudflare service)
In practice, these CDNs set minimal to no cookies for static resource delivery. But we mention them for completeness.
6. Managing cookies in your browser
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Modern browsers let you:
- Block all cookies
- Block third-party cookies specifically
- Delete cookies for a specific site
- Browse in "incognito" or "private" mode (cookies are deleted when the session ends)
Blocking cookies will not break DSPDF's core functionality. The theme preference (dark/light) uses local storage, which is technically separate from cookies. Blocking analytics or ad cookies has no effect on the tools.
7. Do Not Track signals
Some browsers send a "Do Not Track" (DNT) header. DSPDF does not currently respond to DNT signals programmatically. However, since analytics and advertising are off by default, and since no tracking occurs unless the site owner enables them, the practical effect of DNT is honoured by design.
8. Changes to this policy
If we change how cookies are used, this page will be updated with a new "Last updated" date. Material changes will be noted prominently on the homepage.
9. Contact
For questions about cookies or this policy, see the Contact page.